Mini Book Reviews, a Blanket, and ROW80

ooks!

In between readings for school, here's what I've been reading:

Summer Fire by Sally Wentworth, because it has the same name as my novel, coming out in December!

This book was published in 1980.

Let's just say that tastes and conventions in romance have changed quite a bit since then...

Reach for the Sky by Paul Brickhill (who became a prisoner of war and was sent to Stalag Luft III, where he assisted in a mass breakout in March 1944, which became the basis of his book The Great Escape).

This book is about Douglas Bader:

"Aged 21, Bader was a rising star in the RAF: an exceptional pilot with a natural flair for stunt flying and an outstanding sportsman, tipped to play rugby for England. Then disaster struck. Carrying out a banned “slow roll” at low altitude, Bader crashed so badly that he had to have both legs amputated.
Drawing on his own experiences as a fighter pilot and prisoner-of-war, Paul Brickhill takes us through the exhilarating highs and devastating lows of the crash and Bader's fight for survival; his gruelling efforts to master walking, and then flying, with two artificial limbs; the thrills of dog-fights during the evacuation of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the Blitz; the drama of Bader's final combat mission when his Spitfire's tail and fuselage were completely destroyed, forcing him to bail out over occupied France; and his relentless 'goon-baiting' and escape attempts as a prisoner-of-war. More than just Boy's Own adventure, Reach for the Sky is a gripping and profoundly moving account of Bader's war against the Germans, and his battle with himself.
Brickhill's original text is supplemented by an Afterword written by Bader, that gives a very personal insight into physical disability and how he overcame it." (from The Folio Society page)

I never know what to say about books like these.

It just reaffirms my fascination with reading about the lives and events of WWI and WWII.

Bader's grit and determination towards every facet of life are astounding and inspiring.

Vile Jelly by Monica Byrne (short story)

You can read this story right now, and all eight other stories issued in the past year or so, by becoming a Patron of Monica!

As for ROW80... Three updates:

1. I've been quite busy with school, but a couple of weeks ago managed to finish knitting this blanket as a gift:

2. I submitted a story for the Insecure Writer's Support Group anthology contest! Wish me luck...

3. The Charm of Time is still out with betas, but it's sequel is plugging along. Can't wait to dive into it completely during NaNoWriMo!

What have you been reading?